Detectives Choose Not To Testify In Their Own Defense At Federal Corruption Trial

Print

Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Jayne Miller, WBAL-TV 11

Both sides in a federal corruption trial have rested and former Baltimore police Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor chose not to testify in their own defense.

Hersl and Taylor are charged with robbery and overtime fraud. The defense called three witnesses and rested. Closing arguments could take place Wednesday, pending weather concerns.

The government called 32 witnesses in an effort to convince jurors that Hersl and Taylor used their power as police to steal for themselves.

Federal prosecutors closed their case Tuesday with testimony from a current Baltimore police officer who worked with the Gun Trace Task Force in the months before thefederal indictment.

Officer James Kostoplis told jurors of being tested by formerSgt. Wayne Jenkinsand Hersl in January 2017.

"Jenkins said, 'What do you think? We follow around a high-end drug dealer to find out where he keeps his cash and we just go take it,'" Kostoplis said. "I said, 'No, it's a terrible (expletive) idea. You can't have a badge on your chest and do that.'"

Kostoplis said Hersl was present for the meeting, which took place on a side street near police headquarters. Kostoplis said he was transferred out of the gun squad shortly after the meeting.

Jenkins and five other members of the gun squad have pleaded guilty to targeting drug dealers, stealing cocaine, heroin and money, all under the shield of police officers.

Hersl's defense lawyer pressed Kostoplis as to why he didn't blow the whistle, asking, "Did you go to Internal Affairs at any time?"

Kostoplis: "Not that I recall. I didn't believe him, thought he was just testing me."

Kostoplis said Jenkins took family leave for about three months at the end of 2016. At the same time, an FBI agent said there were multiple leaks about the investigation.

Jenkins' absence apparently had a profound impact on the effort to get guns off the street.